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a weary valley resting after a great storm。 Soon they turned back and went to the midday meal in
the hall of the Burg。
The king was already there； and as soon as they entered he called for Merry and had a seat set
for him at his side。 'It is not as I would have it；' said Théoden； 'for this is little like my fair house in
Edoras。 And your friend is gone； who should also be here。 But it may be long ere we sit； you and I；
at the high table in Meduseld； there will be no time for feasting when I return thither。 But e
now！ Eat and drink； and let us speak together while we may。 And then you shall ride with me。'
'May I？' said Merry； surprised and delighted。 'That would be splendid！' He had never felt more
grateful for any kindness in words。 'I am afraid I am only in everybody's way；' he stammered； 'but I
should like to do anything I could； you know。'
'I doubt it not；' said the king。 'I have had a good hill…pony made ready for you。 He will bear you
as swift as any horse by the roads that we shall take。 For I will ride from the Burg by mountain
paths； not by the plain； and so e to Edoras by way of Dunharrow where the Lady éowyn awaits
me。 You shall be my esquire； if you will。 Is there gear of war in this place； éomer； that my sword…
thain could use？'
'There are no great weapon…hoards here； lord。' answered éomer。 'Maybe a light helm might be
found to fit him； but we have no mail or sword for one of his stature。'
'I have a sword；' said Merry； climbing from his seat； and drawing from its black sheath his small
bright blade。 Filled suddenly with love for this old man； he knelt on one knee； and took his hand
and kissed it。 'May I lay the sword of Meriadoc of the Shire on your lap Théoden King？' he cried。
'Receive my service； if you will！'
'Gladly will I take it；' said the king； and laying his long old hands upon the brown hair of the
hobbit； he blessed him。 'Rise now； Meriadoc； esquire of Rohan of the household of Meduseld！' he
said。 'Take your sword and bear it unto good fortune！'
'As a father you shall be to me；' said Merry。
'For a little while；' said Théoden。
They talked then together as they ate； until presently éomer spoke。 'It is near the hour that we set
for our going； lord；' he said。 'Shall I bid men sound the horns？ But where is Aragorn？ His place is
empty and he has not eaten。'
'We will make ready to ride；' said Théoden； 'but let word be sent to the Lord Aragorn that the
hour is nigh。'
The king with his guard and Merry at his side passed down from the gate of the Burg to where
the Riders were assembling on the green。 Many were already mounted。 It would be a great
pany； for the king was leaving only a small garrison in the Burg； and all who could be spared
were riding to the weapontake at Edoras。 A thousand spears had indeed already ridden away at
night； but still there would be some five hundred more to go with the king； for the most part men
from the fields and dales of Westfold。
A little apart the Rangers sat； silent； in an ordered pany； armed with spear and bow and
sword。 They were clad in cloaks of dark grey； and their hoods were cast now over helm and head。
Their horses were strong and of proud bearing； but rough…haired； and one stood there without a
rider； Aragorn's own horse that they had brought from the North； Roheryn was his name。 There was
no gleam of stone or gold； nor any fair thing in all their gear and harness： nor did their riders bear
any badge or token； save only that each cloak was pinned upon the left shoulder by a brooch of
silver shaped like a rayed star。
The king mounted his horse； Snowmane； and Merry sat beside him on his pony： Stybba was his
name。 Presently éomer came out from the gate； and with him was Aragorn； and Halbarad bearing
the great staff close…furled in black； and two tall men； neither young nor old So much alike were
they； the sons of Elrond； that few could tell them apart： dark…haired； grey…eyed； and their faces
elven…fair； clad alike in bright mail beneath cloaks of silver…grey。 Behind them walked Legolas and
Gimli。 But Merry had eyes only for Aragorn； so startling was the change that he saw in him； as if in
one night many years had fallen on his head。 Grim was his face； grey…hued and weary。
'I am troubled in mind； lord；' he said； standing by the king's horse。 'I have heard strange words；
and I see new perils far off。 I have laboured long in thought； and now I fear that I must change my
purpose。 Tell me； Théoden； you ride now to Dunharrow； how long will it be ere you e there？'
'It is now a full hour past noon；' said éomer。 'Before the night of the third day from now we
should e to the Hold。 The Moon will then be one night past his full； and the muster that the
king manded will be held the day after。 More speed we cannot make； if the strength of Rohan is
to be gathered。'
Aragorn was silent for a moment。 'Three days；' he murmured； 'and the muster of Rohan will only
be begun。 But I see that it cannot now be hastened。' He looked up； and it seemed that he had made
some decision； his face was less troubled。 Then； by our leave； lord； I must take new counsel for
myself and my kindred。 We must ride our own road； and no longer in secret。 For me the time of
stealth has passed。 I will ride east by the swiftest way； and I will take the Paths of the Dead。'
'The Paths of the Dead！' said Théoden； and trembled。 'Why do you speak of them？' éomer
turned and gazed at Aragorn； and it seemed to Merry that the faces of the Riders that sat within
hearing turned pale at the words。 'If there be in truth such paths；' said Théoden； 'their gate is in
Dunharrow； but no living man may pass it。'
'Alas！ Aragorn my friend！' said éomer。 'I had hoped that we should ride to war together； but if
you seek the Paths of the Dead； then our parting is e； and it is little likely that we shall ever
meet again under the Sun。'
'That road I will take； nonetheless；' said Aragorn。 'But I say to you； éomer； that in battle we may
yet meet again； though all the hosts of Mordor should stand between。'
'You will do as you will； my lord Aragorn；' said Théoden。 'It is your doom； maybe； to tread
strange paths that others dare not。 This parting grieves me； and my strength is lessened by it； but
now I must take the mountain…roads and delay no longer。 Farewell！'
'Farewell； lord！' said Aragorn。 'Ride unto great renown！ Farewell； Merry！ I leave you in good
hands； better than we hoped when we hunted the orcs to Fangorn。 Legolas and Gimli will still hunt
with me； I hope； but we shall not forget you。'
'Good…bye！' said Merry。 He could find no more to say。 He felt very small； and he was puzzled
and depressed by all these gloomy words。 More than ever he missed the unquenchable cheerfulness
of Pippin。 The Riders were ready； and their horses were fidgeting； he wished they would start arid
get it over。
Now Théoden spoke to éomer； and he lifted up his hand and cried aloud； and with that word the
Riders set forth。 They rode over the Dike and down the Coomb； and then； turning swiftly eastwards；
they took a path that skirted the foothills for a mile or so； until bending south it passed back among
the hills and disappeared from view。 Aragorn rode to the Dike and watched till the king's men were
far down the Coomb。 Then he turned to Halbarad。
'There go three that I love； and the smallest not the least；' he said。 'He knows not to what end he
rides； yet if he knew； he still would go on。'
'A little people； but of great worth are the Shire…folk；' said Halbarad。 'Little do they know of our
long labour for the safekeeping of their borders； and yet I grudge it not。'
'And now our fates are woven together；' said Aragorn。 'And yet； alas！ here we must part。 Well； I
must eat a little； and then we also must hasten away。 e； Legolas and Gimli！ I must speak with
you as I eat。'
Together they went back into the Burg； yet for some time Aragorn sat silent at the table in the
hall； and the others waited for him to speak。 'e！' said Legolas at last。 'Speak and be forted；
and shake off th